Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman Reenactor

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Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

For over half a century, tens of thousands of Colonial Williamsburg visitors have opted for a carriage ride through the Historic Area. The horse-drawn drives are a signature experience in the restored colonial capital.  The rides themselves, although the most visible, are just part of the work of a Colonial Williamsburg Coachman and the stablehands who provide the support.

The routine begins at 7 a.m., when the staff start getting everything ready to roll. That means checking the horses, feeding them, cleaning vehicles, polishing harness brass and checking the leather for wear. The coachmen arrive about 8:30 a.m. They groom the horses, get them in harness, make last-minute checks of the vehicle, change into costumes, help put the horses to the carriages, before heading to the Historic Area to pick up passengers.

Rides continue until about 4:30 p.m. most of the year, although in summer they can extend until later.

Coachman Reenactor, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

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Of all they learn on rides, the visitors to Colonial Williamsburg seem most surprised by the slow pace of eighteenth-century transportation. A Williamsburg-Richmond trip now takes sixty minutes via interstate highway. In the 1700s, it was an uncomfortable twelve to eighteen hours.

Coachmen have to understand the horses and know how to handle the vehicles confidently and safely. The coachman’s art is not just a matter of knowing how to control the horses, a tough skill to master by itself. It involves developing an understanding of how a team works and an intuitive feel for the animals and vehicle.

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Summary

Article Name

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

Description

The rides taken by the thousands of visitors, although the most visible, are just part of the work of a Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

Author

Mark Summerfield

Publisher Name

Mark Summerfield

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